Understanding Assessments: a Breakdown for Caregivers

Part 1 – What is the VB-MAPP? 

As parents, one of the biggest questions you might have when your child begins ABA therapy is: How do we know what they should be working on? That’s where assessments come in. Assessments help Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) figure out where your child is currently in their development, what skills they’ve already mastered, and what areas have room for growth. But not all assessments are the same and not every tool is right for every child. In this post, we’re going to talk about one of the most widely used assessments in ABA therapy: the VB-MAPP. We’ll explain what it is, why it’s used, and what it means for your child’s progress.

What Is the VB-MAPP?

The VB-MAPP stands for Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program. That’s a long name, but in simple terms, it’s a tool that helps us understand your child’s communication, social, and learning skills. It’s especially useful for children with autism or other developmental delays.

The VB-MAPP is broken down into five main parts:

1. Milestones Assessment – This looks at key developmental skills like following directions, asking for things, playing with others, and more.

2. Barriers Assessment – This identifies things that might make learning harder for your child, like behavioral challenges, trouble focusing, or needing a lot of prompts to complete a task.

3. Transition Assessment – This helps us determine if your child is ready to move into a less structured environment, like transitioning from one-on-one therapy to a classroom setting.

4. Task Analysis and Skills Tracking – Here, we break down big skills into smaller, teachable steps so we can track progress more precisely.

5. Placement and IEP Goals – This part helps your child’s team set meaningful goals and make recommendations for school programs or IEPs (Individualized Education Plans).

Why We Use the VB-MAPP

There are a few key reasons why the VB-MAPP is such a helpful tool:

• It focuses on language and communication. The VB-MAPP helps us understand where your child is in their ability to understand and use language and where to go next.

• It provides a clear roadmap. Each milestone builds on the one before, making it easier to plan the next steps in your child’s learning.

• It looks beyond just skills. The assessment also helps identify what might be getting in the way of progress—like attention challenges or problem behaviors—so we can work on those, too.

• It supports transitions. If your child is getting ready to enter a classroom or a new setting, the VB-MAPP can help make that move smoother by identifying what skills are needed for success.

  
  

What It Means for Your Child

After your BCBA completes the VB-MAPP, you’ll receive a detailed breakdown of where your child is doing well and where they may need more support. For example, if your child can label (or “tact”) two items when asked, the next goal might be to work toward labeling four, then six, and so on. This helps ensure that every goal in therapy is based on where your child is right now, and each new step is both appropriate and achievable.

What Are the Limitations?

As helpful as the VB-MAPP is, it’s not perfect for every child:

• It focuses mostly on verbal communication. If your child communicates in nonverbal ways (like pointing or using gestures), the VB-MAPP may not fully capture their abilities.

• It’s designed for children 0-48 months. The skills assessed are generally for children up to about age 4. That doesn't mean it's useless for older kids; it just means we may also use other tools to get a broader picture. 

Our Approach

At One of the Kids, we believe that no single tool can define your child. That’s why we use a variety of assessments, including the VB-MAPP, ESDM, ABLLS, PEAK, EFLs, and more, to ensure we’re truly meeting your child where they are. Our team is always learning, growing, and staying up to date on the best ways to support your child’s development. We’re here to work with you, answer your questions, and celebrate every milestone, big or small. Stay tuned for future posts as we explore more of the assessments we use and how they help shape your child’s therapy journey.